MMDillonIllustrator

Kamehameha

I'm trying out less literal colors in this piece.

I've shifted the colors in the Kamehameha Butterfly; the black is now blue, and the oranges richer than in my photo references. The magenta and violet shadows contrast with the brightened foliage.

The lilly under him on is usually more orange than the russet I've used here.

Watercolor on Arches paper ~ 8x11 inches

Pagan Ritual

Nights of the full moon, days of the Sun King; contemperary Pagans of eclecic variety gather to celebrate life and community.

The Moon Sword featured here is a drawing version of the one I crafted from acrylic panels, derived from the Moon Sword in "Slaine - the Horned God" series by Pat Mills and Simon Bisley (and yes, the knotwork in this one is photocopy collage).

Ink on Bristol board, cut and reassembled, with acrylic wash ~ 10x15

Shelter

Being a parent takes a lot out of you, but in the same way as going to the gym; the work returns compounded rewards.

I wanted this concept piece to be fast and simple, and painted it while the kids were playing at the park.

Watercolor on Arches paper ~ 12x16 inches

Portrait of Tom Porter

This was a school exercise to illustrate an American Heritage Magazine article on Native American identity. The image of a modern Mohawk man is painted over a collage of truth and fiction: the historical prejudices that form the context in which he is perceived, and which in turn affect his own perceptions.

Acrylic over color photocopy montage ~ 11x13 inches

Mother Sun

A simple, warm, and comforting piece. My first daughter's kindergarten teacher always reminded me of this aspect of Mother Sun.

Watercolor on Strathmore paper, ~ 8x10 inches

A Game of Leap Bug

As I reclined this afternoon, exhalting in my joys, between the weeds I chanced to spy three very little boys. One called Sandy, one called Loam, and one called Onion Jack, they all amused a ladybug by sliding down her back.

I guess flower fairies aren't all girls.

watercolor on Arches paper, ~ 12x16 inches

Moon Folly

This scece depicts the opening action in Anne Hill's song "Moon Folly," A beguiling and mythical fairy tale of personal realization.

"I will go up the mountain after the moon.
She's caught in a dead fir tree..."

In a fresh but ancient folkloric tale, the singer steals the moon as Prometheus steals fire, as Persephone steals the secrets of rebirth. She consumes the moon, transforming herself and its power, enabling others to do the same.

Watercolor on Strathmore paper ~ 17x11 inches

Vision of Caer Aislign

Castle of Dreams, Citadel of Aspirations; Caer Aislign appears in many forms, as fluid as the thoughts that shape it.

This view is looking north, toward mountains which are themselves but metaphors.

Captured in a moment of flux, the castle stretches like a napping cat, rearing its turrets and crenelations.

Those who dwell wihin may not notice a thing.

Watercolor on Strathmore paper ~ 12x17 inches

Potions for sale

I don't think any of these bottles contains lemonade. But I'm not actually sure.

This is one of my coloring book pages fleshed out with black and white scratchline rendering.

Virtual pen using Photoshop and Wacom tablet

Where Does the Diaper Go?

This book, still in sketch form, follows the musings of Daddy changing Baby: all the ways they fail to get that darned diaper on right... and what sort of strange creatures would think that's the height of fashion.

sketch and digital typography

Good Morning

Twittering butterflies and fluttering birds; tree spirits and assorted funnly little creatures putter about their daily business amongst the wavering branches of the Quercus helixis.

watercolor on Arches paper, ~ 12x16 inches

Midgard Serpent

I wanted to convey the dramatic burst of speed as the serpent erupts from the waves and lashes about, quickly spotting the hapless ship that has disturbed its oceanic rest. It's never supposed to let go of its tail, so it's a little perturbed.

Watercolor on Strathmore paper, ~ 7x10 inches

Waking Mabon

The Great Boar rampages toward your castle, and only Mabon son of Modron can tame it!

In this cooperative game, players move pawns and spend special powers to help each other talk to all five sacred animals and gather at Mabon's Prison before the Boar reaches the end of its path.

Vector art created in Adobe Illustrator. ~ game board produced at 11x17 inches

Good Neighbors

Eight villagers are planning where to put their new houses. Each has random likes and dislikes. Can you help them all make good neighbors?

This is a little solitaire game for age 6 and up. Shuffle the Like and Dislike cards, and assign two to each villager. Now place the villagers on the map so that all neighbors are happy.

originals are watercolor on Strathmore paper ~ game boards produced at 8x8 inches

Crystal Caverns

Three gnomes looking for beautiful gems have ventured too close to the troll's cave!

Use strategic retreat and the occasional gem offering to get them home with most of their jewells, before the troll slips in and cleans out their gnome home!

Carved and painted wood ~ special edition is 18 inches

Summoner

Celestial spirits dance to the music of the spheres!

This is a game of juggling tokens through the paths on the board, and avoiding or capturing your opponent's tokens to land on all the colored planetary symbols (except Earth in the center) and claim victory.

Created in Adobe Illustrator. ~ game board produced at 11x11 inches

Triage

What would nineteenth century wartime be without the good support of dedicated medical staff? Without tireless devotion to duty, selfless sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to proper procedure?

It'd be this game!

Triage is a tabletop, turn-based card game where each player desperately tries to manage fluctuating medical resources to heal the military patients who will bring the most prestige to his hospital, winning him the title of Surgeon General!

custom vector symbols with 19th century clip art (in several cases modified for amusement) ~ produced at 2.5x3 inches

Castle Sketch

This was a relatively quick drawing to design the skyscraper castle of Charsil in Wurlinstine. Notable features include the towers of the sun and moon, the three arches of the Grand Salon, the Senechall's residence in the left foreground, and the sturdy Knight's Tower.

Rapidograph pen on tracing paper ~ 5x11 inches

Races of Arvaal

Helpful for those new to the world of Arvaal, a quick overview: a Bruson guard of the Kannakoi, a Spirit mouth of the Orii, a wandering Arbiter of the Mischra, an Aelif courtier of the Selegim, and a Gurrk matron with her modest harem.

Watercolor on Strathmore paper ~ 10x8 inches

Map of Arvaal

This suspiciously familiar-looking globe is the world of Arvaal, seat of high adventure and epic legend.

Arvaal is the astronomically unlikely moon of the gas giant the locals refer to by various mythological names, such as "Selcareh's Shield." Arvaal orbits and rotates in such a way that one side always faces the sun. Its extremely long day and night cycle comes from passing behind its gas giant planet. Thus, the sun is perpetually overhead in the central Impireal tropics, and always lower in any of the surrounding, colder lands. The "horizon" lands border on ice fields of eternal darkness, the abode of eldritch horrors and restless shades.

Created in Adobe Photoshop

Alaric Genser, Character Design

For following the long and lonely road - and the wanderer archetype - Alaric needed some equipment and clothing to make him A) Mysterious, and B) Adaptable.

His stiff hood and various trailing lengths of fabric billow in the breeze. Buckles and leather straps within the lining of his robe can support his pack, so the whole encumberment can easily be flung aside when ambush threatens. Multiple clothing layers allow a selection of outfits, including a heavier armor set for planned battle.

pencil and ink

Taking Flight (T-shirt)

Huddled, she waits.

Nursing wounds. Building strength.

Shedding the past. Growing the future.

Resolute in will, desperate in desire.

...waiting... tensing...

Bursting free!

...twisting...falling...plummeting...

Thundering air buffets her, teasing out wings never yet tested.

New muscles flex, new tendons tighten.

Forcing her to turn...

...to rise...

To soar.

Drawn digitally in Photoshop

Cyclops Prouctions

The foudner of this film prouction company is naturally a bit of an old movie fan, including the classic Haryhausen animation. He advocated rough, make-do with what you've got filming, suitable for documentaries and vintage B-movie style revivalism. So we cranked up the heavy rustic cyclopean aesthetic.

Scratchboard ~ 4x6 inches

A Beer and the Game (T-shirt)

For some reason I had turkeys on my mind over Thanksgiving weekend. Plus Wacom digital drawing tablet equals this T-shirt.

It's not true that turkeys drown looking up at rain, by the way. But they do like to gargle.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

Tender Paws Business Card

If you happen to be in Portland Oregon and need your pet pampered for a while, give Susan a call.

Drawn and assembled digitally in Adobe Illustrator

Space Opera Rocket Kit

This lovely little piece of quasi-retro space design is a printable and assemblable paper rocket kit, for use with the Space Opera! light-rules RPG game.

It's also useful to launch two storeys into the air with a few strong rubber bands.

Use with caution. Not responsible for any trouble you perpetrate with this suggestion.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Illustrator

Amahl and the Night Visitors

This cover for a Waldorf school production of the classic Menotti stage play was a collaboration with the school's founder and main teacher, Njeri McGillicuddy.

She created the background color patches, in the extremely loose wet-on-wet style she uses to encourage student expression: three vague figures and the star - in this case with an Araura-like trailing curtain. I added the black ink and a little color to sharpen the Magi's existance.

Since opinions of their origin and natures vary, I gave one an ancient Babylonian/Persian crown, one a Persian nobleman's hood, and one the widely-popular Arabian-style head drape.

Ink and colored pencil over watercolor ~ 9x12 inches

Forest House Catering

The "four element" kitchen implements, old style cauldron, and tree sillhouettes evoke the natural feel and holistic philosophy of the company and its founders.

Ink on Bristol board ~ 4x4 inches

Pizza Party Invitation

Birthday party invitations count as product marketing. Event collateral.

We made little mini pizzas and all the kids got to put on their own toppings. Hey, not all of them were plain cheese.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

An Unwilling Accessory

Episode 1 of the Goth Girls mini-comics, released with the character dolls of the same line.

Here, Phaedra, Magenta and Dementia discuss the finer points of Goth decor at The Club.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

A Scandalous Review

Episode 2 of the Goth Girls mini-comics, released with the character dolls of the same line.

Vervaine sees Bella's writer's block as an opportunity for a lesson in verismilitude.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

A Cordial Invitation

Episode 3 of the Goth Girls mini-comics, released with the character dolls of the same line.

Dementia takes advantage of Bride's obsessive wedding plans... in the name of frugality, of course.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

A Slight Miscalculation

Episode 4 of the Goth Girls mini-comics, released with the character dolls of the same line.

Insidia, Magenta, and Fuchsia have a little all-hands meeting at le Boutique A La Mode.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

An Equitable Arrangement

Episode 5 of the Goth Girls mini-comics, released with the character dolls of the same line.

The Bride and the Countess, our premier socialites, are always ready to trade smiles... you know, the kind with big teeth.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

An Intruguing Encounter

Episode 6 of the Goth Girls mini-comics, released with the character dolls of the same line.

Alyss avails herself of Delerium's observational skills, though her own seem to need a little improvement.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

Caldedonian Boar

From the Fantasy Beasts Coloring Book (WoollyBlossom, 2010)

Snort!

(...mumble...)

Snort!!

"Quiet, blast you!"

SNORRT!!

"Fer Laird's sake, wommin! Ah'm tryin' ta sleep!"

"Pah! That weren't me, ye old faker!... why do I smell bacon?

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

Mushroom Gnome

From the Elemental Spirits Coloring Book (WoollyBlossom, 2010)

Lurking amid the fungi, their silky fillaments woven into clothing, their sprouting seed umbrellas make a useful hat.

Grandfather Mushroom he may be, or perhaps he's as young as his laughter.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

Sky Castle

From the Elemental Spirits Coloring Book (WoollyBlossom, 2010)

Bricks of cloud and mortar of rain. Shingles of snowflake, curtains of fog. Hailstones form the gravel path. Thunderous crashing gates lead to spiraling hurricaine stairways, and gentle zephyr lounges piled with... feather beds.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

Rite of Passage

From the Kid Witch Coloring Book (Dancing Cauldron, 2007)

It was the third day.

The night chill, the isolation, the stony ground had been tolerable, then unbearable. The hunger kept at bay by berries, nuts, wild eggs and even fat grubs - those were a lucky find. He'd hardly ever gotten any at home. His brothers always gobbled them fast. But one look at that fallen tree and he knew he could handle himself out here. He remembered his lessons, his skills, his strengths. Awakened his confidence.

Kindled his power.

He is ready to return.

Pen on paper ~ 8.5x11

Four Elementals

From the Elemental Spirits Coloring Book (WoollyBlossom, 2010)

The Lord of the East sighed. "And what, pray, would you have us consider, old friend?"

"Consider?" growled the Marshal, "ACT! We strike NOW, while the iron is hot!"

A gentle chuckling from the Western Marquis. "At ease, my brother... they will expect this. Much better to confuse them, to wear tham down."

"Their supplies will dwindle," considered the Great king. "Their patience will falter. Bank your wrath, good Marshal... but keep it fed. When the time comes, I will supply you with all that you need."

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

Dust Bunny Trainer

From the Home and Garden Fairies Coloring Book (Dancing Cauldron, 2007)

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

May I direct your attention please to the center ring, there to witness the ASTOUNDING FEATS of COMMAND and UNRIVALLED BRAVERY of our own, the most illustrious Paulo Piccino, renowned and singular trainer of those MOST FEROCIOUS CREATURES... those TERRORS OF THE NIGHT... those LURKERS BENEATH the BED...

DUST BUNNIES!

Pen on paper ~ 8.5x11

Water Spirit

From the Elemental Spirits Coloring Book (WoollyBlossom, 2010)

Shimmering in ripples of silver light, in waves of green algea and lotus blossoms, darting beneath the lilly pads -

The fins of a fish? The curling frond of a water plant? The reflection of a butterfly's rainbowed wing?

I doubt what I saw... if I saw anything. Hypnotized by the glittering sunlight, eased by the cool breeze, lulled by the fresh scent. I suppose I need a nap.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

Bellerophon's Petting Zoo

From the Fantasy Beasts Coloring Book (WoollyBlossom, 2010)

Place two coins in slot as shown. Hold hand carefully beneath spout. Twist dial one complete turn clockwise. When feeding, hold hand out flat.

Drawn digitally in Adobe Photoshop

Kitchen Gremlin

From the Home and Garden Fairies Coloring Book (Dancing Cauldron, 2007)

Salt in sugar and butter in wine! Vinegar milk tastes mighty fine! Rancid bacon, rotten eggs, something swimming in your dregs. Held a feast and called the neighbors. Didn't thank me for my labors. Won't for me my portion set? Soon they'll see just what they'll get!

Pen on paper ~ 8.5x11

Circle Dance

From the Kid Witch Coloring Book (Dancing Cauldron, 2007)

Air, fire, water, earth. Transformation and rebirth. As I will it, be it done; good to all and harm to none.

Just a little gathering in the back yard. Wear your casual ritual robes.

Pen on paper ~ 8.5x11

Grandmother Turtle

From the Goddess Coloring Book (Dancing Cauldron, 2007)

Rowing gently through the sea, at the interface of sky and water. She bears the land, the rocks, the soil, the trees and rivers; all the earth-dwellers ride her shoulders. Turtle Island... Was she always called this? It does not matter. Now they have called her this, she has always existsed.

Pen on paper ~ 8.5x11

Garden Picnic

From the Home and Garden Fairies Coloring Book (Dancing Cauldron, 2007)

Rainwater tea, blueberries, blackberries. Grass seeds and marigold peatals. A single huge strawberry where you'd expect a turkey. No mashed potatoes here, but the woodlouse wants some moldy cucumber, please.

Pen on paper ~ 8.5x11

Four Ornaments

Four fairy style hanging ornamental paintings: Unicorn Dance, Garden Fairy, Peach Castle, and Rapunzel.

The wood came from a neighborhood tree trimming. The watercolor is painted onto acrylic washes which form a sort of guache surface. This was an experiment in mixing the media.

Watercolor and acrylic on wood ~ 3.5 inch diameter

Green Man Pouch

Circular sueded leather pouch. Seventeen individual sueded and painted leather leaves riveted onto a black leather panel form this practical and personal incarnation of the wilderness spirit.

Ample room for cards, keys, lock pick sets, flints, flasks of healing, and mysterious mobile communication devices. Front face panel is secured by a snap at the bottom. Hangs from your belt by one well-rivited and snapped strap.

Purple, black, and tan leather, dry brushed with green acrylic paint ~ 7 inches

Coral Reef Cake

An edible sculpture in low releif, suitable for various occasions. There was no actual party requiring the first version of this cake; it was just for the fun of it. My kids definitely thought it was an excellent idea to practice cake decorating, as long as they got to evaluate the quality of the creation firsthand. Or firstmouth, I guess.

Chocolte-vanilla swirl with buttercream and colored goldfish crackers

Dragon Onesie

I designed the baby dragon logo, and my good friends at Brigid's Well have applied it to this batik creation. A lively fusion of art media.

Batik on organic cotton

Goth Girls

This is the online home of the Goth Girls comics I creted for release with the Goth Girl artisan doll line, released by Argante Dragonheart.

Each handcrafted doll comes with a mini-comic vignette featuring the doll and/or her sister Goths.

The site uses CSS DIV layout rather than a tabular layout (like this portfolio site). The background swirl and title color are chosen randomly on page load, as well as the header image. Mousing over the dolls' names pops up an ID card layer with additional character information.

HTML, PHP, CSS, JS. Images in Adobe Photoshop

Knight Errant

Knight Errant is an original RPG gaming rulebook suppliment in web form. Built to support adventures and storylines in a mythical, truncated-history version of Britain (prehistoric/Brittanic/Saxon/Norman concurrent), this site provides a basic orientation regarding culture, geography, and setting-specific gaming rules.

The site was built waaaay back when table layouts were the thing. ;)

I may get around to converting this to CSS layout just for propriety's sake.

HTML, PHP, CSS. Images in Adobe Photoshop

National Semiconductor Webench™

I've designed websites and graphics for National Semiconductor. I developed the code and graphics for National's Power Portal and worked on various in-house projects including forms, user interface designs and banner ads. I also designed the Webench™ section headers and navigation.

HTML, JS, Images in Adobe Photoshop

Children's Book Illustration Portfolio

My children's illustration site was the precursor to (and is largely superseded by) this broader portfolio site. It's now a subcategory of this one.

I liked using the watercolor leaf "wallpaper" images in website design.

HTML, PHP, CSS. Images watercolor on Strathmore paper